Sometimes we forget. Life gets busy. Things get thrown on us at the last minute and we have to bend, sway, or sometimes even adapt to new situations or circumstances we find ourselves in but, regardless, in anything we do and with every person we encounter in life, we should approach them with love in our heart. Sharing love is difficult to do and it’s a life lesson for most of us. It’s really hard to share your love (in this case, our positive regard) with someone that’s hurt us or that we think is not deserving of your love but then, that’s a judgment call on our part. We should never change who we essentially are for anyone else. Approaching others as our best, in the best way we can, makes us better people and keeps us righteous. We are sharing our true selves with others not our defense mechanisms, our protective shields but who we truly are, no holds barred. We can’t control others and their reactions but we can stay true to ourselves and share our authentic selves with others. That makes us winners in the end. So hold a Valentine’s Day full of love in your heart and share with the world your endless supply. Be true to yourself and take care.

Hello all! This posting is long overdue and I apologize for that. My computer received some nasty bot ware/malware which has, sadly, rendered it completely useless. This is the first time I’ve been able to actually upload a few photos (onto a different computer).

I want to share with you pictures from the Ice show we attended at the Gaylord Palms Hotel in Kissimmee, FL last month. The Ice show is held once a year from the day after Thanksgiving until approximately New Years Day. I’d advise getting a Groupon or Living Social coupon (if available) as prices run over $20 per person for the event. We were able to get a Living Social coupon for a fair deal but had no warning of the $18 parking fee! Thank goodness they take credit cards for the parking fee. If you’ve never been to this event, I’d advise paying the $18- it’s well worth the price for the adventure. Also, with the Living Social coupon, you can run straight through to the waiting line and not have to wait for tickets or for “will call.” It was easy and painless.

They will outfit you with a light parka (which actually works pretty well against the chilly 9 degree temperature inside the exhibit); however, I recommend wearing additional: mittens, knit cap, and especially a scarf (which will be good to cover parts of your face when the cold gets a bit overwhelming).

“Ice” should be seen at least once by everyone who loves beautiful art because that’s what these ice sculpture are- works of art in all types of color. Though I’d been to the Ice show once before, this year the theme was ‘The Nutcracker’ and I was happy for the opportunity to attend again. After “Ice”, you can browse through the gift store or the cafeteria and there’s even a “Santa’s workshop” for the kids. It’s a really fun event I highly recommend.

So, you want to be a writer, eh? You enjoy the creative process, and you think you have a knack for coming up with various stories with scintillating plots that grab the reader from the get-go. Well… there are many things you will encounter as a writer that no one ever told you.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I enjoy writing. It’s fun, exciting and who doesn’t like seeing their name on their own book cover? It’s not the writing. It’s all the stuff that comes with the writing that can be a throbbing headache turned into your worst nightmare.

Here are ten off the top of my head I’ve learned the hard way.

That, as an author, you will do more advertising and marketing than actual writing

That in between the time you submit your manuscript and actually receive a contract, you will tear all your hair out and go bald and insane because waiting for someone to say you’re good enough to publish is the worst thing ever!

That as an unknown author, you NEED book reviews but that finding good book reviewers who will actually commit to reading/reviewing your book is just as easy as ‘finding a needle in a haystack’

That gathering a fan base and creating an ‘author platform’ is not as easy as it seems

That rejections of your manuscript will feel like personal attacks regardless of what anyone says and that this happens because you are a human being with feelings

That every rejection of your manuscript will have you questioning whether you should be an author or if your work is good enough

That endless waiting comes with being an author and it sucks!

That writing and self-editing take up quite a lot of time and that it’s hard to do when you are juggling a full-time job, a family, are taking care of your older parents and trying to live your own life (if you can find time to do that)

That some people will actually not want you to succeed or block your efforts and that these ‘people’ are people you know